Hoyt catlin



H. CATLIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR; 2. I92].

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

INVENTOR Hos r CflTLl/V ATTORNEYS preventin UNITE STATES PATENT oFricE.

HOYT CA'ILIN', OF FAIRFIELID, CONNECTICUT. ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CCRPCRATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

ee-ems.

Application filed March 2, 1921.

'1 'o ((17 111720772 it may concern:

.lle it known that Lzl-lov'r Cirrnln, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Fairfield, in the county of Fairi'ield and'state of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches,

and particularly to rotary snap switches. The object of my invention is to provide an in'iprovedmounting for the operating handle or thumb piece, for the purpose of not only i injury to the switch mechanism as the result of attempts to operate the same in the wrong direction, but in order to se-v cure proper indication of the connections established by the switch under all conditions.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a plan of a switch having mounted thereon a handle, to which my invention is applied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch showing the handle elements in vertical section;

Fig. is a section on the line 33, Fig. 2; and I v Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views but showins: the handle in different positions.

The one-way rotary snap switch mechanism oi the electric fitting to which my invention is shown applied, may be of any desired construction, and it is therefore not illustrated except that the spindle 6 upon which the mechanism is mounted is indicated in. certain of the figures. A casing 7 of usual type incloses the switch mechanism and bears on its upper surface legends 8 to indicate the connections estal'ilished by the switch bar in its various positions. The switch indicated is of" the type known as a heater switch for controlling; various connections to the resistance units of a heating d vice, such for instance as that used in an electric cooking range, or the like. In switches of this character, the mechanism is commonly rotatable only in one direction, and its reverse rotation is apt to injure the springs which eftect its snap action, or otherwise derann'e the mechanism.

To actuate the switch and at the same time not only to safeguard it against injury by attempt at reverse rotation, but also to maintain the switch indicator in proper position Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11., 1921..

Serial No. 449,058.

with relation to the legends 8. I mount on the spindle the operating device to which my invention particularly directed. This device comprises a sleeve 9 having an operating connection 10, of any sort. with the spindle 6. Freely swiveling on the sleeve, except for the lost motion engagement here inafter mentioned, is athumb-piece or hau dle 11, through which the sleeve passes. h'ioviug; therewith, and here shown integral therewith, is a. pointer 12., the position of which with respect to the legends 8 on the casino 7, indicates the connection established in the various switch positions, The endwise escape of the handle from the sleeve is preventei'l'by a washer 13 seated against a shoulder at the outer end of the sleeve and retained by the rolled-over edge of the neck 14: extending beyond the shoulder. This washer hears freely against the bottom of the well 15 in the outer face of the thumb piece, thus detainingthe latter while at the same time permitting it to freely rotate. After the operating connection at 1.0 has been effected between the sleeve 9 and spindle 6, the parts are held in assembled position by any suitable securing means. such as a screw 16 taking lnto the upper end of the spindle 6 and bearing; against the outer end of the sleeve 9.

The above mentioned. lost motion engage ment between the handle ll and sleeve 9 is secured as follows: On the lower face oi the handle 11 is a countersunk boss 1? with an inwardly projecting lug l8. Seated against the bottom of" this countersink is a hie; 19 fast on the sleeve 9. Normally maintaining these lugs 18 and 19 in engagement as indicated in 2), is a slightly tcnsioned coil spring 20 surrounding the sleeve and accommodated in the chamber 21 in the body of the handle 11. One end 2.4 of this spring engages the lug 19 on the sleeve, while its other end 23 engages a slot 24: in the handle 11,

While ohvitmsly an actuating connection between the handle. ll. and the switch spindle 6 is thus established. provided the handle is rotated clockwise (Fig. i) in the manner indicated by the arrow X in .hig. 1. since the lug; on the handle and the lug if? on the sleeve are in engagement, it is equally obvious that upon contra-clo i*lcwise rotation (l ig. the lug 11:3 on the l'iandle moves awalg 'hx'nn. the lug 19 on the sleeve and leaves the spindle 6 unafi'ected. This rotation, however, further tensions the spring 20, so that upon release of the handle it at once snaps back to the position in which the lugs 18 and 19 are in engagement. This of course restores the pointer 12 to proper indicating position with respect to the legends 8 on the casing. The extent of the are through V which the handle may be inoperatively rotated in contra-clockwise direction, may be aried sis-necessary. It should be sullicient, however, to prevent engagement between the lugs 18 and 19 on a single manipulation of the handle; something over half a turn is ordinarily suilicient since it is practically impossible for the operator to turn the han- 1 dle through a greater are than this without releasing the handle to take a fresh grip. Immed ately upon such release the handle returns to its original position. The extent of-the are on the other hand should not he so great as to put too great a strain on the spring 20.

Various modifications of construction will readily occur to those skilled in the art. I wish tocall particular attention, however, to the fact that the construction illustrated not only ali'ords an assembly unit which is itself readily assembled and may be readily connection with the switch mechanism. an associated pointer cooperating with the indicator legends and spring means for ret'urning said handle and pointer to predetermined position with respect to the switch mechanism after rotation ()i said handle in opposition to said one-way connection.

2. A. handle unit tor a rotary snap switch, such unit comprising a carrier adapted to positively engage a switch spindle, a handle swiveling on said carrier, a one-way conned tion between said handle and carrier. and means for autonuitically returning said handle to position after rotation in opposition to said one-way connection.

A handie unit for a rotary snap switch comprising a rotary carrier. a handle s\\i\cling on said carrier, means Qt'tillillslllllg a one-way operating connection between said parts, and a spring normally holding said one-way operating parts in engagement in predetermined relative position. I

Jr. A handle unit tor a rotary snap switch comprising a Toliiil') carrier. a handle swirclinc; on said carrier. means establishing a oncway operating connection between said parts and a spring normally holding said oneay operating parts in en agcincnt, in combination with a pointer z )ciated with said handle and moving therewith in the direction wherein said one-way conncction opcrates. and also in opposite direction in opposition to said spring. together with stationary indicating legends with which said pointer is associatci'l.

in testimony whereot l have signed my name to this specification.

HO Y" OATLIN. 

